Page 34 of Nailing Studs

I loved the way he spoke to me when he was inside me, like he couldn’t believe how good this was either, like I was his woman and he’d finally come home. I knew Taylor had a confident way about him, but never in a million years had I expected anything like this. I rocked my hips rapidly back against him, and suddenly I felt my pussy flex around his cock as I came for a second time.

“Oh, shit.” He growled once more, and moments later he came to a standstill inside me and held himself there, cock twitching, and I could tell by the sudden breath that he let out that he had just come as well.

For a long moment Taylor didn’t move, holding himself still, as though, like me, he was allowing himself some time to reconnect to reality. And then, eventually, almost reluctantly, he pulled himself out of me and quickly disposed of the condom.

He flopped down on the bed and I pulled the covers up and over both of us. However hot that had been, it was still cold in the house at night. He reached over and pulled me against his chest, and as soon as I was in his arms once more I forgot all about the chill in the air. What a solid, amazing chest to lay my head on. I could fall asleep and dream against it all night.

“Mmm.” He nuzzled his face into my hair.

I closed my eyes and comforted myself with the sound of his slow, steady heartbeat. “That was really good,” I finally managed, blurting the words out like an awkward teenager.

He laughed and stroked my hair. “Kayla?”

I sighed and stirred against him. “Yeah?”

“Can I ask you something?” Taylor asked.

I mumbled a sleepy sure.

“Have you ever loved someone?”

This question acted like five shots of espresso and a thousand alarm clocks. I held myself perfectly still, like I was suddenly cuddling with a wild animal who might bolt at any unexpected movement.

“I don’t know,” I said slowly. “I thought I loved the guy I dated in high school. We tried to do the long distance thing when we graduated, but we drifted and neither of us tried to stop it, so, I don’t know, maybe I never did love him.”

I could feel the tension in Taylor’s chest.

“And my ex and I, Grant, told each other we loved each other after dating for a few months,” I continued. “But I question now whether I said that because he did or if I actually felt those feelings.” At Taylor’s nod, I shrugged and added, “So, I guess the short answer is that I don’t know.”

Taylor was silent for a moment and I wondered if the conversation was over. But then he spoke, quietly, hesitantly. “I’m worried that I can’t.”

I frowned. “Can’t what?”

He shifted uncomfortably and readjusted me in his arms. He held me tighter. “I’m worried I’m not capable of loving.”

I almost laughed, but stopped when I caught sight of his face and saw he was serious. He bit at his lip and creases of worry lined his forehead.

“You know Laura, the real estate agent whose card I gave you?” He waited until I nodded, then he plunged on. “When we were in college, Laura was more than a roommate—she was my girlfriend. Our girlfriend. But in the end… she loved me,” he said. “I could see it clear as day in her eyes. I knew she loved me and I just…I just couldn’t feel it back. I tried for a while. I really, really tried. But I couldn’t. I should have. And I couldn’t.”

I rubbed circles across his chest. “You can’t force love,” I whispered.

Taylor lifted my chin with a finger so my eyes fell onto his. “But maybe it’s me,” he said. “Maybe I’m… missing something.”

I smiled. “I think it’s quite the opposite.”

Taylor frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I think you have a strong, pure, powerful love inside of you. You know what love is and you know what love isn’t. And you’re not afraid to wait for it,” I explained. “I was so worried with forcing it to please the other person that I’m not sure I even know what it is anymore. But you do, Taylor, and you’ll find it. I just know it.”

He kissed my forehead and ran his fingers through my hair.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

I felt him exhale, like a great pressure had been removed from his chest. “For what?” I asked softly.

“Just...thank you.”

We laid together in peaceful silence before Taylor whispered, “Mind if I stay over?”